Only two more days until Thanksgiving, and planning is underway. You can feel it in the air, and see it on the streets, in the markets and supermarkets, busier than usual. For me, the planning depends on whether I’m hosting or I’m the guest, alternating roles that happen every second year. You see, for as long as I can remember —maybe almost as long as (more…)

I didn’t think I would be including the recipe for quince paste this early in the life of Mama Ía blog. Don’t get me wrong, I love quince paste, but I understand it might not be a dish my American friends would eat often, as it is the case in Spain. Quince paste is very popular in Spain, and it’s usually eaten with cured manchego cheese, or with fresh (more…)

As a child, I thought lentil soup was okay. Just okay. In fact, I wasn’t a soup person, or a stew person. I didn’t like anything that had much broth in it. I much preferred dry rice dishes, like paella or arroz al horno, baked rice. And beans, in particular, weren’t my thing. I still remember my mom’s singsong, “Las lentejas tienen mucho hierro. Y fibra”, lentils have so much iron, and fiber. And her lentil soup with chorizo and bacon not only had a lot of fiber and iron, but was full of flavor. (more…)

Bonus post this week! I happened to have a bowl full of pumpkin seeds, the remnants —or better, the byproduct— of last week’s jack-o-lantern making. Another great aspect of Halloween, and one of my favorites! Don’t get me wrong, I like the carving, it is a fun family activity. There’s lots of laughter, alongside (more…)

I have very good memories of my school. Which is interesting, because it contrasts with my sister Paula’s memories of the same school (I won’t elaborate, except to say that artists don’t fit easily in pre-made molds, and Paula was, and is, no exception!). Pureza de María was the name of the school, an all-girls school (more…)